Editor's note: Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has agreed to chronicle his experience during the fourth annual Executive's Ride, which began last weekend at the House of Harley-Davidson on Layton Ave.

Thursday, June 28

5:20 am -- Our first TV hit on CBS 5 in Green Bay. They do their live shot with me in front of our row of our motorcycles. We talk all about Summerfest, the Brewers, State Fair, Discovery World, the Zoo, the
Milwaukee Art Museum, Jelly Belly Store, Holy Hill and plenty of other sites in southeastern WI.

I also mentioned that we brought our sons up to Bay Beach for many years when they were young and enjoy going to Family Night with the ackers. We do TV spots at 5:40, 6:20 and 6:40, too.

8 a.m. -- We leave the Holiday Inn and depart for the dealership on the east side of town along the freeway. McCoy's has always been very good to us and they have Danish (I think it was from Racine), fruit and OJ
out for us.

The reporter from the Green Bay Press Gazette comes by to do a follow-up story. She has fun talking with our gang - particularly one of our riders who brought his wife and grandkids (in a side car) this year. She is from UWM and knows a great deal about the Milwaukee area.

9:30 a.m. - Our next stop is the Appleton Harley-Davidson dealership. We missed them last year, but are glad to be back. A reporter from the local radio station comes by to talk with me and get some sounds of our
Harleys.

10:15 a.m. - We soar into Oshkosh and the EAA museum. Paul Poberezny, the founder of the EAA, came out to see us and took a photo with us inside the great hall. He is 85 and still rides a Harley (he had it adapted
to be a 3-wheeler). What a treat to hear him talk.

11:30 a.m. - We pull into the Open Road Harley-Davidson dealership in Fond du Lac. They are under new ownership and the owners were great - providing us with a super lunch. I do an interview with the local radio
station and give them some sound of the pipes on my bike, too.

12:45 pm - Route 43 Harley-Davidson dealership in Sheboygan is our next stop. They are right over by the giant American flag pole (it must be about 10 stories high or more). What a beautiful site. The dealership has
custard so we all get an extra dessert.

2:20 pm - We pull into the park and ride lot on Brown Deer Road. At 2:50, we are met by a whole crew of deputies on motorcycles from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department. They take us down Brown Deer Road to
Lake Drive and along the lake front. The guys do a super job!

We then roar into Summerfest coming in from the north. The deputies clear out the intersection by the front entrance and we glide into the Harley lot. My wife Tonette jumped on the back of my bike at the park
and ride. A few of the American Legion Riders joined us with their flags and we put them in the front. I always love watching people along the way when many stand and put their hands over their hearts as the flags
pass by.

4:30 pm I head into the backstage area of the Miller Lite stage. A little after 5:00, the program starts and we officially kick of the 40th anniversary of Summerfest. Rhonda Begos, Bob Babisch, John Boler and
the rest of the staff in Don Smiley's band rocked!

I kept my Harley jacket, boots and jeans on - along with a Summerfest "Smile On" t-shirt (I was happy for the leather jacket as it got cold on the lakefront). I mentioned the ride in my brief comments and the crowd
loved it. I told them that Summerfest and the Brewers were all the buzz on the tour.

With Summerfest having its 40th anniversary and the Brewers their 25th anniversary of the World Series team, it is good to see both back on top (now if we can just sweep the Cubbies this weekend).

Tonette and I stayed for the REO Speedwagon concert on the M&I Classic Rock Stage (we will be back this week). It was a long, but good day.

Total count: 1,720 miles.

This group of riders was outstanding. Thankfully, they were experienced riders and that made things very safe. Our Road Guards were perfect and we always felt safe along the way. Many thanks to all who joined us
for all six days on the road - and the others who came for a day or two. It was a great ride.